bell's blog

One week ago Daniel showed up to play No pity modern Monday. I played him in the 2nd round and we chatted after the match.

I gave him some sugestion for sideboard cards since he didn't have a sideboard for his deck and I suggested a card or 2 that would help his orzhov Extort deck.

Apparently he listened and picked up the cards that we had talked about and then won the FNM at Rogues Gallery.

Tonight he brought in his wife to join the world of MTG and share in his love of the game. Dan was excited to test his FNM winning Deck at No pity Modern Monday at Bell's Gaming Center.

His wife Kiley had bought a Blue M19 Planeswalker deck and a few booster packs. It was a casual standard deck vs competitive Modern Decks. Jon "Gruul the land Destroyer" offered to lend her his Eldrazi Tron deck. It was way too complex for a brand new player.

I offered to let her used my $50 pauper deck turn Modern deck that was fun and easy to play.

It took a couple of mintutes to explain that almost all 30 of the creatures in the Mono Black deck had a enter the battlefield trigger. So even if they died right away to an opponents spell. They still got there triggered ability to resolve.

She accepted my offer and with her 2nd round opponents permission I rode shot gun as she piloted the mono black deck. I explained the basic mechanics of the game and the phases of the game as she played. Her opponent was very patient as Kylie had to read almost every card her opponent played. She was new and wanted to learn what her opponent was doing.

Her 2nd round opponent was playing Naya Burn. an all in deck that needs all of its cards to count. The mono black deck is all about making your opponent discard cards from there hand.

It is actually a pretty solid match up.

Kylie ground Kevin's hand into zero cards before Kevin could deal lethal damage to her. The next thing Kylie Knew. She had 2 creatures on the Battlefield and Kevin has Zero cards in hand and Zero creatures on the Battlefield. Kylie swung in for damage.

Kevin Drew a card. It was a land. Kylie swung in for Damage again. Kevin drew a crad for his turn. Another land. Kylie Swung in again. Kevin Drew a card for his turn. Another land. Kylie swung in one more time and won her 1st tournament game.

She was extremely happy and couldn't believe what had just happened.

Game 2 was Kevin on the play which meant he doesn't draw a card on is 1st turn.

Kylie Cast Duress and took Lightning helix. Saving her 3 damage.

Kevin then on turn 2 cast Atarka's command and surprised me by doing 3 damage to Kylie and putting an extra land into play from atarka's command. Why did this surprise me? Kylie's deck s all about making you discard a card of your choice. So you generally save the extra land to pitch and not a good card that helps you win the game.

Kevin had 1 card left in his hand at this point. Kylie cast Ravenous rats and made kevin discard Blood Braid Elf. Now on turn 3 Kevin is living off the top of his deck.

Kylie was getting the hang of the deck. She kept wanting to cast Gatekeeper of Malakir on an empty battlefield. I kept telling he no, cast something else.

The finally Kevin dropped a creature. On Kylie's turn she looked at me and said what should I cast? I said you know that card you have wanted cast cast since turn 2? that one. She cast it. I explained the kicker mechanic and Kevin Sacrificed his only creature.

Kevin then proceeded to draw several lands in a row while Kylie got in for damage. Game 1 was much closer than game 2.

And just like that Kylie won her match 2-0. She was happy and still wasn't sure what just happened. I explained to her that you ran your opponent out of resources and then won. That is how the deck works.

Round 3 Kylie was sitting at table 2. A win got her top 4 and Prize support. A lost got her a Crisp High five and a thank you for playing.

She was paired up against blue white control. Again not a terrible match up. Blue/white wants to do nothing but react to what you do. But Kylie's deck is all about making you discard your hand. And with no hand you can't react to what she is doing!

Game 1 Again with her opponents consent I sat next to her and gave advice when needed. She had for the most part figured out what the mechanics of the deck did. Now I had to explain to her the nuance of Timing.

The Naya burn player can't stop your spells from resolving. So casting spells before the combat phase is not a big deal.

Now the completely the opposite is true vs the Blue/white control player.

I had to keep repeating. No, Attack 1st for the 1st 5 turns of game 1. She kept wanting to cast her spells before attacking. Why is this not a good idea? The control player wants options. If you attack 1st, they have to decide to take action vs the creature attacking them or take damage. If they do nothing. Damage gets through then you are closer to winning. If they take action vs your attacker. They have no mana left over when you cast your good spell after combat.

Finally her opponent had 2 cards left in his hand. Once again I said No, attack 1st. So she did. Her opponent used one of his remaing 2 cards in hand. A kill spell on her attacker leaving 1 card left in hand. When she dropped liliana's Specter and he had to Discard the only card left in his hand.. His Teferi, Hero of Dominaria. One of his only win conditions.

I looked at Kylie and said, now do you understand why you always attack 1st vs control? She smiled and said yes.

To my amazement. Her opponent resolved a Teferi and flipped search for azcanta.

I sighed and said now it gets really hard for you to win. Somehow She ripped a couple of discard spells and then a Duress followed up by a gray merchant of Asphedol for the win! She beat a FLipped Azcanta and a Teferi!

Game 2Again she ripped apart her opponents hand. It looked like she was off to the races when she duressed Terminus, a board wipe spell, out of her opponents hand. It was his last card. Kylie had 5 attack power on the battlefield. Just a couple a swings and game over.

Then her opponent Miracles a terminus off the top his next draw. Wiping out the 5 power.

Then he starts attacking with Celestial Colonade. Kylie went to block. I pointed out she was at 20 life. She can let that thing swing in for 4 damage several times before she needs to block it. Your life total is a resource. Wining the game 1 life to 0 life or 20 life to zero life counts as win. Nothing more and nothing less.

What this did is tap 5 of her opponents lands giving her the opportunity to load up the battlefield with creatures. Her opponent Drops a Teferi and passes turn. Now it looks like she is going to lose this game. Then she rips Duress off the top of the deck like a pro. Casts Duress. Takes his counterspell. She then dropped a Gray Merchant for 10 damage and put her opponent to 1.

Her opponent rips Supreme verdict off the top of the deck and wipes out Kylie's board. He had a Teferi out at this time too. Somehow he only had 2 mana open. She rips another gray merchnt off the top of the deck.

I tell her either has has it or you win. She looked at me questioningly.

You have to win on this turn or he takes over the game and kills you in a turn or 2 with his celestial Colonade.

Drop it likes it hot and either you win or we go to game 3.

So she casts Gray Merchant for 2 damage. Her opponent just drops his hand ono the table and says you win.

She looked at me like what just happened. I shook her hand and said congratulations you just won and finished in the top 4 and will get prize.

She was very happy with the deck and is going to come back again to play FNM Modern. She wants to buy the deck. I cautioned her. I said you know how Kevin had the bad side of variance and drew 5 land in a row game 1? Sometimes that will happen to you. You experienced the good side of Variance today. Your deck drew Hot. You will have games where you just draw 5 land in a row and loose.

Dan Didn't fare so well but didn't mind because his wife had a blast and won store credit prize.

Dan was amazed at how patient and helpful all 3 o her opponents were and how I taught Kylie the technical aspect of phases of the game and the nuance of timing. They were both grateful that they found Bell's Gaming Center.

And I am glad that they did. I opened this store so Magic:The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons players would have a great place to play.